Abstract
A decrease in water resources around the globe in irrigated agriculture has resulted in a steep decline in irrigation water availability. Therefore, management options for efficient use of available irrigation water are inevitable. Deciding the critical time, frequency and amount of irrigation are compulsory to achieve higher crop outputs. Hence, this two-year field study was conducted to assess the role of different row spacings, i.e., 20, 25 and 30 cm, on growth, productivity, and water use efficiency (WUE) of wheat under deficit supplemental irrigation (DSI) at the vegetative and reproductive phase by using surplus supplemental irrigation (SSI) throughout the growing season as the control. DSI at both growth stages, and the reproductive stage in particular, changed the crop allometry, yield and net income of wheat. However, narrow spacing (20 cm) resulted in efficient use of available irrigation water (DSI and SSI) with higher yield, WUE and economic returns. Interestingly, wider spacing resulted in a higher number of grains per spike with higher 1000-grain weight under SSI and DSI, but final yield output remained poor due to a lower number of productive tillers. It was concluded that reducing irrigation during the vegetative stage is less damaging compared with the reproductive phase; therefore, sufficient supplemental irrigation must be added at the reproductive stage, particularly during grain-filling. Further, narrow spacing (20 cm) resulted in efficient utilization of available irrigation water; therefore, wheat must be grown at a narrow spacing to ensure the efficient utilization of available irrigation water.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the three main cereals feeding the world
Resulted in efficient utilization of available irrigation water; wheat must be grown at a narrow spacing to ensure the efficient utilization of available irrigation water
Spaced wheat exhibited 45.89% and 17.37% more yield and 35.14% and 14.61% higher water use efficiency (WUE) compared with the wider row spacing under Deficit supplemental irrigation (DSI) during the reproductive phase (Table 4)
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the three main cereals feeding the world. Global annual production during 2013 was 718.13 million tons, feeding about one-fifth of the human population [1].The rapidly increasing global population will need double the current global wheat production until2050 to ensure food supply for future generations [2]. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the three main cereals feeding the world. Global annual production during 2013 was 718.13 million tons, feeding about one-fifth of the human population [1]. The rapidly increasing global population will need double the current global wheat production until. The scientific community is working to find comprehensive strategies to eliminate the possible danger of famine due to increasing population pressure. Under the current scenarios of climate change, an increase in the cultivation area without adverse social and environmental impacts is virtually impossible; an increase in yield is the only. Agronomy 2016, 6, 22 possible option [3,4]. A continuous decline in fresh water availability is a hurdle to the potential to increase production [5,6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
